Films for Breakfast

In an age of never-ending reboots and remakes, hardly any revamp surprises me anymore; but I must confess – the idea of a Toxic Avenger remake both caught me off guard and peaked my interest, mostly because it’s the type of film we hardly get nowadays. But here we are, nearly forty years after Troma’s cult classic first splattered across screens, The Toxic Avenger returns in a wild, unapologetic new form from director by Macon Blair, who has made a name for himself both directing and starring in violent revenge films, some of which are funny! This makes him an immediately great candidate to tackle Toxie for the next generation.

This version is fairly similar to the original as it starts out, with Winston (Peter Dinklage), a terminally ill janitor working for a corrupt company that seems to be the base for all of the problems in his hometown. After being diagnosed with cancer and denied the treatment he needs, Winston takes drastic measures to provide for his son before he passes. Instead, he winds up falling into a vat of toxic waste at the hands of some goons. Rather than dying, he mutates into the grotesque but oddly heroic Toxic Avenger.

From there, the story takes several departures from the original, and one of its greatest strengths is the supporting cast. Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood turn in delightfully hammy yet menacing performances as the film’s central villains, perfectly fitting into this world and tone, while Taylour Paige and Jacob Tremblay also add add a nice energy and emotional core to the film. But the true standouts are Peter Dinklage and Luisa Guerreiro, who performs Toxie physically after the transformation. The combination of Dinklage’s charisma and Guerreiro’s committed, expressive physicality brings immense charm and vitality to the character, making Toxie both hilarious, bad-ass, and oddly endearing.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the original, but one of the most surprising aspects of this remake is just how heartfelt it is. This updated story strikes a smart middle ground, honoring the chaotic charm that fans love about the original while adding genuine depth to its characters and narrative. Nothing here is radically different, and the film keeps the tone fairly light, much like the source material, but it balances heart, humor, action, and blood splatter with finesse.

Another standout element is the film’s reliance on practical effects. Toxie’s makeup is fantastic, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine a 2025 remake working if it wasn’t; but it also carries just enough of a rough-around-the-edges quality to stay true to Troma’s signature style. On top of that, the gore and blood effects are impressively executed, delivering exactly the kind of old-school splatter fans would hope for.

By the end, Macon Blair’s The Toxic Avenger is a remake that both honors its cult-classic roots and confidently stakes its own claim. It’s funny, gory, and surprisingly heartfelt, anchored by fun performances, a nice reliance on practical effects, and Blair’s direction adds a lot to this version of the story. The film manages to capture the spirit of Troma while feeling fresh and vibrant for a new generation. It’s messy and outrageous – and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun.